Sleeve making apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

Apparatus and method in which a continuous web, having a continuous tear strip extending longitudinally thereof, is formed into a continuous tube, slit simultaneously along opposite sides of the tear strip at intervals spaced longitudinally of the continuous tube, and then severed transversely at locations extending across and inbetween the ends of the slits therein to provide individual sleeves each having a longitudinally extending tear strip for use in effecting sleeve rupture.

United States Patet [191 Pepmeier SLEEVE MAKING APPARATUS AND METHOD[75] Inventor: Carl R. Pepmeier, Fredericksburg,

[73] Assignee: FMC Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa.

[22] Filed: Aug. 22, 1972 [21] App]. No.: 282,675

[52] U.S. C1. 93/94, 93/1 TS, 93/82, 156/203, 156/250, 156/466 [51] Int.Cl. B31c 13/00, R3lb 1/38 [58] Field of Search, 93/1 TS, 94, 82, 93/77R, 77 CL, 1 F; 156/203, 250, 466, 467, 554, 510

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,653,432 9/1953 Wright eta1. 93/1 TS 3,463,060 8/1969 Chebuhar 93/82 X 3,392,073 7/1968 Schenk eta1. 156/203 Dec. 11, 1973 3,597,292 8/197] Takeda 156/203 2,140,21312/1938 Tegarty.... 156/203 3,575,769 4/1971 Radzio 156/466 FOREIGNPATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 472,388 9/1937 Great Britain 93/1 TS PrimaryExaminer-Andrew R. Juhasz Assistant Examiner-James F. CoanAttorney-Thomas R. OMalley et a1.

[5 7] ABSTRACT Apparatus and method in which a continuous web, having acontinuous tear strip extending longitudinally thereof, is formed into acontinuous tube, slit simultaneously along opposite sides of the tearstrip at intervals spaced longitudinally of the continuous tube, andthen severed transversely at locations extending across and inbetweenthe ends of the slits therein to provide individual sleeves each havinga longitudinally extending tear strip for use in effecting sleeverupture.

12 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures SLEEVE MAKING APPARATUS AND METHOD Thepresent invention is directed to a sleeve making apparatus and method.

The packaging or containing of articles within sleeves is, of course,well known in the art. Shoe strings, ribbons, and yarns are typical ofthe many products which are packaged within comparatively loose fittingsleeves which can be easilyremoved by merely sliding the same relativeto the packaged product. Other articles as for example tampons, areoften contained within snug fitting sleeves which generally must beruptured to secure access to the contained article.

Packaging of an article within a sleeve may be effected, for example, bymerely encircling a flat sheet about the article and sealing its endsinplace. Alternatively, the article, while at least partiallycompressed, may be inserted axially into a preformed sleeve.

In the use of preformed sleeves, at the packaging stage it is essentialor desired that the individual sleeves be open at both ends thereof,that'they be of generally uniform size throughout the lengths thereof,and that they be capable of snugly containing the article yet be adaptedto be easily removed by the article user for access to the packagedarticle. In view of these and other similar characteristics required ordesired in preformed packaging sleeves, a primary object of thisinvention is the provision of a new or improved and more satisfactoryapparatus and method for making individual sleeves from flexible sheetmaterials.

Another object'of this invention is to provide an improved apparatus andmethod for making individual sleeves from continuous, flexible sheetmaterials.

Still another object is to provide an improved apparatus and method formaking individual sleeves which are particularly suited for use inarticle packaging with each such sleeve having a longitudinallyextending tear strip for use in effecting sleeve rupture.

A further object is the provision of an improved apparatus and methodfor making individual sleeves with longitudinally extending tear stripseach of which is adapted to be pulled from either end of the respectivesleeves to effect sleeve rupture.

A still further object is the provision of a new or improved apparatusfor making individual sleeves from continuous webs, which apparatus issimple in construction and use, economical, and which may be operatedcontinuously or intermittently with equally satisfactory results.

These and other objects are accomplished in accordance with the presentinvention by an apparatus and methodin which successive portions of acontinuous, longitudinally advancing web are progressively deflected',first into a U-shaped configuration, and then into a tubular form inwhich the longitudinal edges are in overlapped relationship. Theseoverlapping edges are then sealed concomitantly with the continuousadvancement thereof to provide a continuous tube.

The web employed in the method and with the apparatus of the presentinvention has a continuous tear strip attached to one side thereof whichis spaced from and substantially parallel to the longitudinal edgesthereof. Thus, in the continuous tube which is formed this continuoustear strip will be disposed at a location spaced from the sealed webedges.

Once formed, the successive portions of the continuous tube aregradually urged into a flattened condition and are slit simultaneouslyalong opposite sides of the tear strip but only at intervals spacedlongitudinally of such tube. With continued advancement, the tube isthen severed transversely at locations extending across and between theends of the web slits to provide individual sleeves. While severing ofthe sleeves is effected while the tube is in a flattened condition, thesleeves are permitted to relax immediately after their formation andrapidly assume their intended tubular configuration.

Shaping of the web into a continuous tube is achieved by enveloping thesame about a mandrel, which is supported at only one end thereof,concomitantly withthe longitudinal advancement of such web relative tothe mandrel and toward its free end. This is accomplished by the use ofa series of idler rolls, each of which has a peripheral groove withinwhich the mandrel is positioned and each of which is of greater diameterthan the adjacent preceding roll, with the roll nearest to the mandrelsupport means being smallest in diameter. The axes of such rolls and theinnermost portions of the roll peripheral grooves lie in planes whichare substantially parallel to each other and to the axis of the mandrel.Thus, as the web is advanced inbetween and relative to the mandrel andthis series of idler rolls, it is gradually and progressively urged intoa U-shaped configuration about the mandrel.

The longitudinal edges of the web may be disposed into overlappingrelationship by the means employed in sealing such edges to each other.Desirably, a conventional stationary folding finger assists the sealingmeans at this stage by urging one longitudinal edge of the partiallyshaped web onto the mandrel as such web is advanced toward the sealingmeans.

Sealing of the overlapped web edges is effected before the web isadvanced beyond the mandrel and may be accomplished by the use of heatand/or adhesives, depending upon the particular web material employed.

The sleeves provided by the apparatus of the present invention arepreferably of cylindrical configuration and thus the mandrel issubstantially round in crosssection. Fixed to the free end of suchmandrel, however, is a tube spreader, which consists of a flat bladelikemember, the opposite longitudinal edges of which are arranged indiverging relationship so as to urge the continuous tube into aflattened or collapsed condition as it is advanced toward and beyond atube. slitting means.

Periodic slitting of the continuous tube simultaneously along oppositesides of the attached tear strip is achieved while such tube is advancedalong the spreader. Employed for this purpose is a positively drivenrotor having at least one pair of like, laterally spaced, parallelblades projecting from the periphery thereof, with such blades beingspaced longitudinally of the rotor a distance at least equal to thewidth of the tear strip. Obviously, as the number of such pairs ofblades on the rotor and/or the rate of rotor rotation is increased, thelongitudinal intervals at which the continuous tube is slit becomeshorter.

A pair of nip rollers are positioned beyond the free end of the tubespreader and serve to advance the continuous web, and the tube formedtherefrom, through the apparatus thus far described. One of such niprollers' is positively driven while the other is an idler roller whichis mounted for selective movement toward such driven roller. Preferably,the periphery of at least the driven roller is covered with rubber orlike material to insure good frictional contact with the surface of theflattened tube.

Located beyond this advancing means are a pair of synchronized,positively driven rotors, one of which has a longitudinally extendingblade projecting from its outermostsurface and the other having alongitudinally extending anvil. As mentioned, the movement of theserotors is synchronized so that the projecting blade and anvil togethernip and sever the continuous tube in a transverse direction. Themovement of these rotors is also synchronized with that of the slittingmeans to insure that the continuous tube is severed transverselybetween, and preferably midway between, the ends of each pair of slitsprovided in such continuous tube. Thus, at the opposite ends of each ofthe resulting individual sleeves, slits are present along opposite sidesof the tear strip, providing ready access to and easy removal of thetear strip by the ultimate user. The webs employed in making packagingsleeves with the apparatus of the present invention may be of anysuitable materials, as for example regenerated cellulose films, paper,longitudinally oriented thermoplastic polymeric materials, such as,polypropylene, polyethylene or polyester films having their moleculesoriented in a longitudinal direction, etc. The tear strips can be formedof materials which are like or similar to those of the webs or may be inthe form of textile threads, yarns, ribbons, etc. Preferably, the web isformed of heat-sealable material or is provided with a coating ofheat-sealable material on at least one side thereof to facilitatebonding of the overlapping longitudinal edges thereof during themanufacture of the continuous tube. In lieu of such heat-sealablecoating, bonding of the web edges may be achieved by means of a liquidadhesive. Desirably, the tear strip is colored for easy identification.

Preferably, the continuous web and continuous tear strip are supplied tothe apparatus of the present invention from separate sources with thelatter being sealed, as by heat or adhesives, to the web immediatelyprior to shaping of such web into a continuous tube. In this operation,the tear strip is applied to that side of the web which is to form theinside surfaces of the resulting sleeves to thereby protect the samefrom displacement during sleeve manufacture and handling prior to thetime it is intentionally removed.

In the drawing,

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side view of the apparatus of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 illustratingelements thereof in greater detail;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a transverse vertical section of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1as viewed along the direction indicated by arrows IVIV; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a sleeve as provided by the apparatus ofthe present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawing, character 11 denotes a supply spoolof a continuous tear strip 13, as for example, of regenerated cellulosefilm, which is passed over a deflector bar 15 and through an applicator17, where a liquid adhesive is applied to one side thereof.Simultaneously, a continuous web 19, as for example, a regeneratedcellulose film having a coating of heatsealable material on one sidethereof, is drawn from a separate supply spool 21 and, during itspassage over a guide roll 23, is engaged by the adhesive-coated side ofthe tear strip 13. As the web 19 travels over a back-up roll 25, aspring 27 urges an electrically heated shoe 29 against that portion ofthe web 19 to which the tear strip 13 is attached to provide for rapidsetting of the applied adhesive.

From the roll 25 the web, with its attached tear strip, is led by a roll31 to a mandrel 33 which is supported at only one end thereof. The webis advanced continuously along the mandrel 33 and, during such travel,is engaged by a shaping means 35 which urges the same into a U-shapedconfiguration about the mandrel 33. With continued travel, onelongitudinal edge 37 of the web 19 is urged onto the mandrel 33 and issubsequently overlapped by the opposite longitudinal edge 39 as such webis advanced into and through a sleeve 41. A slot 43 in the sleeve 41accommodates an electrically heated shoe 45 which engages with and sealsthe overlapping web edges to thereby provide a continuous tube 47.

Attached to the free end of the mandrel 33 is a spreader 49 which servesto progressively urge the tube 47 into a flattened or collapsedcondition, without wrinkling the same, as such tube 47 is continuouslyadvanced relative thereto by cooperating nip rollers 51 and 53. Ashereafter described in detail, the roller 51 is positively driven whilethe roller 53 is an idler which maintains the flattened tube 47 snuglyengaged with the roller 53. During passage over the spreader 49, thetube 47 is slit, at longitudinally spaced intervals thereof,simultaneously along opposite sides of the tear strip 13 by pairs oflaterally spaced blades 55 projecting from a positively driven rotor 57.

Beyond the nip rollers 51 and 53, the flattened tube 47 is severedtransversely into individual sleeves 59 by a blade 61 and cooperatinganvil 63 carried by individual rotors 65 and 67, respectively. Therotors 65 and 67 are positively driven in synchronism with each otherand with the rotor 57 to insure that severance of the tube 47 iseffected between, and preferably midway between, the ends of each pairof slits formed in the tube 47 by the pairs of blades 55.

Referring now to the more detailed FIGS. 2-4, the apparatus of thepresent invention includes a table 69 to which are fixed a pair oflaterally spaced, vertically disposed side plates 71 and 73 which extendthe full length of the apparatus. A support 75 is fixed to the sideplate 73 by a suitable bolt and spacers 77 and 79 and has attachedthereto a bracket 81 from which projects a vertical shaft 83. The spool11 of continuous tear strip material 13 is rotatably supported on theshaft 83, while the spool 21 of the continuous web material 19 isrotatably mounted on a similar shaft 85 extending horizontally from thesupport 75.

The deflector bar 15 serves to change the path of the tear strip 13 andto direct the same to an adhesive applicator 17, which includes anadhesive supply chamber 87 fixed to the side plates 71 and 73, an idlerguide roll 89 supported from the chamber 87 by a bracket 91, and a diproll 93 which rotates within the liquid adhesive contained within thechamber 87 and deposits the same onto the tear strip 13 as it travelsthereover. Adhesive is delivered into the chamber 87 as needed through asuitable opening which is maintained covered by a plug 95.

As heretofore mentioned, the adhesive-coated side of the tear strip isengaged with the web 19 as the latter the now combined .web and tearstrip is delivered by the guide 'roll 31 to the mandrel 33 and shapingmeans 35. The rolls 23, 25 and 31 are all supported between the sideplates 71 and 73 and are driven solely by the movement of the web 19.

The mandrel 33 is positioned substantially parallel to and midwaybetween the side plates 71 and 73 and is supported at only one endthereof by the cross-piece 97. Preferably, the mandrel 33 extendsthrough the cross-piece 97, with its leftmost end serving as a mount foran adjustable cup 99 from which the deflector bar projects. Thisdeflector bar 15 is positioned eccentrically relative to the cup axisand thus, with only a slight rotation of such cup 99, variation in thepath of the tear strip 13 to the guide roll 89 is readily achieved Oncesuch adjustment is completed, the cup 81 is fixed in place.

The shaping means 35 consists of a series of idler rolls 101, 103, 105,107, 109 and 111 which are rotatably supported between the side plates71 and 73 with their axes in a common plane. As illustrated, the rolls103, 105, 107, 109 and 111 are each of greater outside diameter than thepreceding roll or rolls, and aligned grooves 113 are provided in all ofthe rolls of the series of rolls for receiving the mandrel 33. While theinnermost portions of the grooves 113 are of like diameter, thegrooves113 are of greater depth in the successive rolls 101, 103, 105, 107, 109and 111. Thus, as the web 19 is progressively advanced relative tothemandrel 33, its opposite longitudinal edges 37 and 39 are gradually andprogressively urged upwardly into a U-shaped configuration, asillustrated in FIG. 4, by the walls of the grooves113 in the successiverolls 101 through 111.

Once beyond the shaping means 35, the longitudinal edges 37 and 39 ofthe web are overlapped as they are advanced into the sleeve 41 which issupported from the side plate 71. If desired, a conventional foldingfinger 115 also fixed to the side plate 76 may be employed in urging theweb edge 37 against the mandrel prior to the travel of the web into thesleeve 41.

The overlapping longitudinal edges 37 and 39 of the I web 19 are sealedto each other by the electrically heated shoe 45 during web travelthrough the sleeve 41. A linkage 117 supports the shoe 45 from a bracket101 projecting from the side plate 71 and permits such shoe 45 to beelevated from the web in the event web travel is interrupted.

The spreader 49 attached to the free end of the mandrel 33 is merely aflat plate having diverging side edges 119 and 121 which effect aflattening of the tube 47 as it travels relative thereto. Concomitantlywith its collapse, the tube 47 is simultaneously slit along oppositesides of the tear strip 13 by the pairs of laterally spaced blades 55,such as razor blades, projecting from the rotor 57.

As heretofore mentioned, the rollers 51 and 53 serve to advance'the web19 and resulting tube 47 through the apparatus and are preferably formedwith rubber covered peripheral surfaces to insure firm frictionalengagement with the collapsed tube 47.

At ends, the roller 53 is rotatably supported in bearing blocks 123,each of which is adapted to slide along a frame fixed to the respectiveside plates 71 and 73 and consisting of guide plates and 127 and a topplate 129. Rods 131, fixed at their lowermost ends to the bearing blocks123, project up through the top plates 129, and at their uppermost ends,are rotatably connected to a shaft 133. Springs are interposed betweenthe respective bearing blocks 123 and top plates 129 to normally urgethe roller 53 toward the roller 51. However, cam plates 137 are fixed tothe opposite ends of the shaft 119 and are provided with suitable levers139 which permit the bearing blocks 123, and the roller 53 carriedthereby, to be elevated when it is desired to interrupt the advancementof the web 19 and tube 47.

The tube 47 is severed into desired sleeve lengths by the cooperatingblade 61 and anvil 63 carried by the rotors 65 and 67, respectively. Therotor 67 is supported between the side plates 71 and 73, while the rotor65 is preferably mounted within bearing blocks 141. Plates 143, togetherwith the adjacent plates 127, provide 'guideways for the bearing blocks141 so to facilitate movement of the rotor relative to the rotor 67.Bolts 145, extending through the top plate 129, are threaded into therespective bearing blocks 145 and permit the opposite ends of the rotor65 to be adjusted so as to insure proper cutting action transverselyacross the tube 47.

As shown in FIG. 2, the rotor 57, roller 51 and rotor 67 are eachsupported by bearings 147 fixed to the side plates 71 and 73, and areformed with shaft extensions 149, 151 and 153, respectively, to whichare fixed gears 155, 157 and 159. An idler gear 161, carried by a shaftv 163, meshes with the gears 155 and 157 and a similar idler gear 165,carried by a shaft 167 is in meshing en gagement with the gears 157 and159. The rotor 65 is also provided with a shaft extension 169 havingfixed thereto a gear 171 which meshes with the gear 159. With thearrangement of gears described, a positive rotary movement isapplied tothe shaft extension 153 by a suitable movement, not shown, and istransmitted to the shafts 149, 151 and 169 to thereby drive the rotor57, roller 51, and rotors 65 and 67 insynchronism with each other.

As illustrated at the right side of FIG. 1, the sleeves 59 relax fromtheir collapsed condition as they are severed from the tube 47 andrapidly assume the desired cylindrical configuration.

Shown in FIG. 5 is a sleeve formed with the apparatus of the presentinvention, which sleeve includes at each end thereof slits located alongopposite sides of a longitudinally extending tear strip. These slitsprovide ready access to the tear strip and permit the sleeve 59 to beeasily ruptured from either end thereof.

It is to be understood that changes and variations may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in theappended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for making individual sleeves each having a longitudinallyextending tear strip for use in effecting sleeve rupture, said apparatusincluding means for longitudinally advancing a continuous web havingattached to one side thereof a continuous tear strip which is spacedfrom and substantially parallel to the longitudinal edges of the web, amandrel, means supporting said mandrel at only one end thereof, meansbetween said mandrel supporting means and the free end of said mandrelfor enveloping the combined web and tear strip about said mandrel withthe longitudinal edges of the web in substantially parallel overlappingrelationship, means between said enveloping means and the free end ofsaid mandrel for sealing the overlapping longitudinal edges of the webto each other to thereby provide a continuous tube, means forsimultaneously slitting the web along opposite sides of the tear stripat intervals spaced longitudinally of the continuous tube, and meansbeyond the free end of said mandrel for severing the continuous tubetransversely thereof at locations extending across and between the endsof the web slits to provide individual sleeves.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said enveloping meansincludes a series of idler rolls each having a peripheral groove withinwhich said mandrel is positioned, each roll of said series of idlerrolls being of greater diameter than the adjacent preceding roll withthe roll nearest to said mandrel support means being smallest indiameter, the axes of said series of rolls and the innermost portions ofsaid roll peripheral grooves lying in planes which are substantiallyparallel to each other and to the axis of said mandrel.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said web advancing meansincludes a positively. driven pair of nip rollers one of said niprollers being driven and the other of said nip rollers being an idlerroller mounted for selective movement toward and away from said drivenroller.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said mandrel is substantiallyround in cross-section, and further including a flat blade-like memberfixed only at one end thereof to the free end of said mandrel, saidmember terminating between said slitting and web advancing means andhaving its longitudinal edges arranged in diverging relationship so asto urge the continuous tube into a flattened condition as it is advancedtoward and beyond said slitting means.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said slitting means includesa positively driven rotor, and at least one pair of like parallel bladesprojecting from the periphery of said rotor, said blades being spacedlongitudinally of said rotor a distance at least equal to the width ofthe tear strip.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 further including separate means forsupplying the continuous web and continuous tear'strip, and furtherincluding means for sealing the tear strip to the web.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said severing means includesa pair of positively driven rotors, one of said rotors having alongitudinally extending blade projecting from its outermost surface,the other of said rotors having a longitudinally extending anvil, andmeans for positively driving said rotors in synchronism so that saidblade and anvil together nip and sever the continuous tube.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said enveloping meansincludes a series of idler rolls each having a peripheral groove withinwhich said mandrel is positioned, each roll of said series of idlerrolls being of greater diameter than the adjacent preceding roll withthe roll nearest to said mandrel support means being smallest indiameter, the axes of said series of rolls and the innermost portions ofsaid roll peripheral grooves lying in planes which are substantiallyparallel to each other and to the axis of said mandrel.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said enveloping meansincludes a series of idler rolls each having a peripheral groove withinwhich said mandrel is positioned, each roll of said series of idlerrolls being of greater diameter than the adjacent preceding roll withthe roll nearest to said mandrel support means being smallest indiameter, the axes of said series of rolls and the innermost portions ofsaid roll peripheral grooves lying in planes which are substantiallyparallel to each other and to the axis of said mandrel.

10. A method of making individual sleeves each having a longitudinallyextending tear strip for use in effecting sleeve rupture including thesteps of longitudinally advancing a continuous web having attached toone side thereof a continuous tear strip which is spaced from andsubstantially parallel to the longitudinal edges of the web,progressively deflecting successive longitudinal portions of thecontinuously advancing web first into a U-shaped configuration and theninto a tubular form in which the longitudinal edges of the web are inoverlapped relationship, sealing the overlapped longitudinal edges ofthe continuously advancing web to each other to provide a continuoustube, progressively urging successive portions of the continuous tubeinto a flattened condition without wrinkling the same, slitting theadvancing tube simultaneously along opposite sides of the tear strip atintervals spaced longitudinally of the tube, and concomitantly with theadvancement thereof intermittently severing the continuous tube in atransverse direction at locations extending across and between the endsof the slits therein to provide individual sleeves.

11. A method as defined in claim 10 wherein the continuous tube is slitconcomitantly with the flattening thereof.

12. A method as defined in claim 10 wherein the tube is severed while ina collapsed condition and the individual sleeves are permitted to relaximmediately after their formation to assume a tubular configuration.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,777,632 Dated December 11, 1973 Inventor(s) Carl R. Pepmeier It iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Col. 4, line 48, "73" should read -7l--,- "and 79" should be deleted.Col. 5, line 20, "81" should read --99--; line 42, 76" should read-7l--,- line 49, delete "101"; line 52, after "49" insert a comma line53, after "33" insert a coma line 65, after "At" insert --its opposite-.Col. 6, line 33, after "167" insert a comma Col. 7, line 24, delete"positively driven"; line 25, after "being" insert --positively v Signedand sealedthis 30th day of April 19m.-

E Attesc:

EDWARD II.I "LETCHER,JB. c. MARSHAL L DANN Attesting Officer-Commissioner of.Patents FORM 9 95? -9 uscoMm pc scan-Poo .5. GOVERNMENTPRINTING Q II'I CI lil 0-316-834,

1. Apparatus for making individual sleeves each having a longitudinallyextending tear strip for use in effecting sleeve rupture, said apparatusincluding means for longitudinally advancing a continuous web havingattached to one side thereof a continuous tear strip which is spacedfrom and substantially parallel to the longitudinal edges of the web, amandrel, means supporting said mandrel at only one end thereof, meansbetween said mandrel supporting means and the free end of said mandrelfor enveloping the combined web and tear strip about said mandrel withthe longitudinal edges of the web in substantially parallel overlappingrelationship, means between said enveloping means and the free end ofsaid mandrel for sealing the overlapping longitudinal edges of the webto each other to thereby provide a continuous tube, means forsimultaneously slitting the web along opposite sides of the tear stripat intervals spaced longitudinally of the continuous tube, and meansbeyond the free end of said mandrel for severing the continuous tubetransversely thereof at locations extending across and between the endsof the web slits to provide individual sleeves.
 2. Apparatus as definedin claim 1 wherein said enveloping means includes a series of idlerrolls each having a peripheral groove within which said mandrel ispositioned, each roll of said series of idler rolls being of greaterdiameter than the adjacent preceding roll with the roll nearest to saidmandrel support means being smallest in diameter, the axes of saidseries of rolls and the innermost portions of said roll peripheralgrooves lying in planes which are substantially parallel to each otherand to the axis of said mandrel.
 3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1wherein said web advancing means includes a positively driven pair ofnip rollers one of said nip rollers being driven and the other of saidnip rollers being an idler roller mounted for selective movement towardand away from said driven roller.
 4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1wherein said mandrel is substantially round in cross-section, andfurther including a flat blade-like member fixed only at one end thereofto the free end of said mandrel, said member terminating between saidslitting and web advancing means and having its longitudinal edgesarranged in diverging relationship so as to urge the continuous tubeinto a flattened condition as it is advanced toward and beyond saidslitting means.
 5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said slittingmeans includes a positively driven rotor, and at least one pair of likeparallel blades projecting from the periphery of said rotor, said bladesbeinG spaced longitudinally of said rotor a distance at least equal tothe width of the tear strip.
 6. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 furtherincluding separate means for supplying the continuous web and continuoustear strip, and further including means for sealing the tear strip tothe web.
 7. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said severing meansincludes a pair of positively driven rotors, one of said rotors having alongitudinally extending blade projecting from its outermost surface,the other of said rotors having a longitudinally extending anvil, andmeans for positively driving said rotors in synchronism so that saidblade and anvil together nip and sever the continuous tube.
 8. Apparatusas defined in claim 3 wherein said enveloping means includes a series ofidler rolls each having a peripheral groove within which said mandrel ispositioned, each roll of said series of idler rolls being of greaterdiameter than the adjacent preceding roll with the roll nearest to saidmandrel support means being smallest in diameter, the axes of saidseries of rolls and the innermost portions of said roll peripheralgrooves lying in planes which are substantially parallel to each otherand to the axis of said mandrel.
 9. Apparatus as defined in claim 4wherein said enveloping means includes a series of idler rolls eachhaving a peripheral groove within which said mandrel is positioned, eachroll of said series of idler rolls being of greater diameter than theadjacent preceding roll with the roll nearest to said mandrel supportmeans being smallest in diameter, the axes of said series of rolls andthe innermost portions of said roll peripheral grooves lying in planeswhich are substantially parallel to each other and to the axis of saidmandrel.
 10. A method of making individual sleeves each having alongitudinally extending tear strip for use in effecting sleeve ruptureincluding the steps of longitudinally advancing a continuous web havingattached to one side thereof a continuous tear strip which is spacedfrom and substantially parallel to the longitudinal edges of the web,progressively deflecting successive longitudinal portions of thecontinuously advancing web first into a U-shaped configuration and theninto a tubular form in which the longitudinal edges of the web are inoverlapped relationship, sealing the overlapped longitudinal edges ofthe continuously advancing web to each other to provide a continuoustube, progressively urging successive portions of the continuous tubeinto a flattened condition without wrinkling the same, slitting theadvancing tube simultaneously along opposite sides of the tear strip atintervals spaced longitudinally of the tube, and concomitantly with theadvancement thereof intermittently severing the continuous tube in atransverse direction at locations extending across and between the endsof the slits therein to provide individual sleeves.
 11. A method asdefined in claim 10 wherein the continuous tube is slit concomitantlywith the flattening thereof.
 12. A method as defined in claim 10 whereinthe tube is severed while in a collapsed condition and the individualsleeves are permitted to relax immediately after their formation toassume a tubular configuration.